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Swimming UpstreamHighlighting Courageous Education Leaders That Swim Against the Current Author: Tom Luna
Swimming Upstream host Tom Luna, is a former school board member was privileged to serve as a Senior Advisor to US Sec of Education Rod Paige. He also served for eight years as Idaho's State Superintendent of Public Instruction. During that time, he was the President of the Council of Chief State School Officers. On his podcast, Swimming Upstream, he visits with courageous leaders who challenge the prevailing tide and inspire all of us to swim against the current. Lets jump in. About Our Host Tom Luna was elected Idaho State Superintendent of Public Instruction in 2006 and served two terms during which Idaho passed arguably the most comprehensive education reform laws in the country. While serving as State Superintendent, Tom was elected President of the Council of Chief State School Officers, an organization made up of all 50 state chiefs. In 2009 Tom was appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Education to the National Assessment Governing Board. Connect with Tom on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-luna-79045716/ View our Full Lineup of Shows: https://www.strategosgroup.com/insights Visit our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@strategospodcastnetwork Language: en Genres: Business, Education, Entrepreneurship Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it Trailer: |
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Literacy, School Safety, and Teacher Retention: Richard Woods on Leading Georgia Education
Episode 37
Wednesday, 24 December, 2025
In this episode of Swimming Upstream, host Tom Luna is joined by Johnny Key live from the Excel in Ed Conference in New Orleans for a conversation with Richard Woods, Georgia’s elected State School Superintendent.Woods reflects on his path from classroom teacher to statewide office sharing how the post No Child Left Behind era pushed him to focus on what he felt was missing most: talking about kids, not just tests. Now entering his 12th year in office and running for a fourth term, he describes what it takes to stay relevant, energized, and centered on student outcomes over multiple terms.The conversation explores Georgia’s push to strengthen early literacy, including the rollout of new K–12 literacy standards grounded in the science of reading. Woods shares early results from Georgia’s federally identified CSI schools, where coaching support modeled after Mississippi’s approach has driven initial gains and is now being replicated more broadly across the state.Woods also discusses Georgia’s comprehensive approach to school safety—not only hardening buildings through cameras, SROs, and facility design collaboration with first responders, but also addressing the “question behind the question” through mental health supports, stronger inter-agency coordination, and telehealth access in rural communities.Key Moments06:12 "Importance of Reading for Kids"09:57 "Focusing on Kids' Basic Needs"11:14 Prioritizing School Safety and Readiness17:15 "Teaching the Peach Initiative"18:05 Addressing Teacher Retention Challenges21:45 "Improving Literacy Through Accountability"24:49 "Integrating Subjects for Deeper Learning"Connect with Richard WoodsLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-woods-52571849/Website: https://www.gadoe.org/
